David Smith offers his son Carter Smith, 4, a sip of sweet tea March 7, 2013, while enjoying lunch at Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits on North Wesleyan Boulevard during the 17th annual Dine Out for Communities In Schools.

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David Smith offers his son Carter Smith, 4, a sip of sweet tea March 7, 2013, while enjoying lunch at Bojangles' Famous Chicken 'n Biscuits on North Wesleyan Boulevard during the 17th annual Dine Out for Communities In Schools.

Dine Out For Communities In Schools

Dine out Thursday at these participating restaurants and 10 percent of your check will be donated to Communities In Schools

The 18th annual Dine Out for Communities in Schools will take place Thursday across the Twin Counties.

More than 60 restaurants are participating in the annual event in which local restaurants pledge 10 percent of their sales to support one of the area’s larger dropout prevention programs. The money raised will go directly to the operating budget for Communities In Schools of the Rocky Mount Region.

The fundraiser raised about $14,000 last year and is expected to raise even more this year, since more restaurants are participating. The money raised will account for about 10 percent of the organization’s operating budget, said Sharon Deal, executive director of Communities in Schools.

“We have been doing this for years,” she said. “It is something the community has supported for many years.”